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Something about Sequels

In some ways, writing and releasing a sequel is like being a sophomore in high school (or college, I suppose). You’ve been around the block. You know your way around campus, more or less…at the very least, you’re no longer getting lost trying to find the cafeteria. The initial overwhelming OMGWHAT of freshman year has faded, and even though the excitement is definitely still there, it’s a new kind of excitement. You’re no longer the “new kid,” and you’ve probably carved out a bit of a niche for yourself, found your friends, and your clubs, etc.

But it’s still only sophomore year! There’s so much more to figure out, and learn, and discover. You encounter things you thought you knew, only to find out you really didn’t. Entirely new things pop up. Things change. You change.

And of course, in the end, the analogy does break down a bit. A second book (especially a sequel) brings on all kinds of pressures. For many writers, it’s the first time they’ve written on contract, with deadlines from the very beginning. Drafting a book over the course of a year and drafting one in a couple months are very different beasts! Plus, you have all these new responsibilities about marketing the first book, and all these worries—will people who loved the first book love the second one? Will they think it’s too different? Too similar? Will it have that dreaded “middle book syndrome”? Will you disappoint the readers?

Nearly every single writer who I’ve talked to about a sequel says this almost word for word: “I’m worried it’ll disappoint readers.”

Of course, writers worry plenty about first books, too! But there’s something about the second that at once increases and decreases the worry. On one hand, you’re a little more sure of yourself since you’ve done it before—had the launch party, and the happy reviews, and the not-so-happy reviews, and you’ve survived it all once, and are the smarter for it, so shouldn’t it be easier the second time? It can be, a little. You know what to expect, generally. But this is still a different book, and not only a different book, but one that expands upon a story people have already been introduced to—one they now have expectations for.

It can all be rather nerve-wracking!

But personally, I’ve always loved sequels for the same reason I love television shows. I love entering a story already knowing the characters, and feeling like I have history with them. I love encountering them in a new situation and being able to smile to myself and think, “oh, I know just how they’ll react.” Not that sequels should be predictable! But there’s a certain familiarity that I enjoy.

Sequels sometimes get a bad rep as “bridge” books, that serve no purpose other than shuffling the characters from Book 1 to Book 3. It’s true that they often involve a lot of set-up necessary for a Big Book 3 Showdown. But—and maybe this is because I’m a huge fan of character-driven plots—I do like how characters tend to grow and mature in second books…and the lovely anticipation of knowing the storm is coming 🙂 Of course, a fast-paced plot is necessary, as well!

What do you think? What are some of your favorite sequels? 🙂

In celebration of the fact that we’re a little less than TWO MONTHS (eep!) from the release of Once We Were, I’m giving away an ARC of the book, plus an e-copy of What’s Left of Me. (they’re two separate prizes). Both are international!

About Kat

Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former allows for better souvenirs, but the latter allows for dragons, so it’s a tough pick. HarperCollins published her first YA trilogy, the Hybrid Chronicles, which are about a girl struggling to survive in an alternate universe where people are born with two souls, and one is doomed to disappear. Next up, she has two MG stand-alones coming out with Aladdin/Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, tells the story of a Chinese-American girl who embarks on a hunt for a long-lost treasure after her eccentric aunt goes missing during a summer trip to China. You can learn all about Kat at her site, or listen to her ramblings on Twitter.

51 Responses to Something about Sequels

I’m incredibly nervous about the thought of writing under contract. It’s one of my big fears of ever getting a publishing contract. I worry about writing a book quickly since I’m not doing that right now. And I agree there’s the worry if readers will consider it good enough. Can’t wait to read Once We Were.

I heard an interesting piece on NPR this morning about how all the summer films are “2’s” because for Hollywood it is a sure thing. As you said, there is a little bit of the McDonalds effect. People think, “Well, at least I know what to expect.” Funny that so many people prefer comfort to challenge in their film-going. I wonder if that is a factor with books as well. Congrats on book 2!

Great giveaway (my fingers are crossed for the Once We Were ARC) I think my current favourite sequel is The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan The Demons Lexicon series is a great favourite of mine and this book perfectly continues the story
Right now I’m really looking forward to two sequels The Glass Republic by Tom Pollock and (of course) Once We Were by Kat Zhang
Thanks

Great post. Favorite sequels… hmm… I actually seem to have a LOT of “book 2″s in my TBR pile. One sequel that stood out for me would have to be Scarlet By Marissa Meyer. That book just stacked more action right on top of the first book, Cinder. Thanks for the giveaway!

That’s actually a very difficult question! Mh… there’s lots of books I love that I wish they have sequels but don’t. I think it is because, as you said, I love to see the characters grow!
But if i had to pick an actual sequel I’ve read as my favorite… I wouldn’t know. Maybe “the Girl Who Played with Fire”.
I’m really looking forward to “Once We Were” though!
Thanks for the giveaway!!

Favorite sequels would have to be The Haunted and The HIdden by Jessica Verday. Can’t wait to read Once We Were! What’s Left of Me was such a compelling book. I’ll be adding it to my favorite sequels too.

Although I have very many favorite sequels such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, the Millenjium series, I really like Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley, the sequel to Gone with the Wind. Even though I didn’t like some of the plot sequences. I was really happy of the fact that there was a posthumous sequel to Gone with the Wind.

I do love sequels–and it can work the other way around. Sequels can totally BLOW the socks off the first book. too. I loved Catching Fire of the Hunger Games series–it was my favorite book out of the three!

Of course, as soon as I’m asked, I forget. But I did pretty thoroughly enjoy The Madness Underneath, the second book of the Shades of London series. In most cases, I found that the 3rd, 4th, etc books of a series were better than the 2nd book…

I’m always tentative about starting the second book because I love first books and beginnings much better than the middle or end, but that’s just my personal preference. I’m generally a starter, not a finisher. Usually all my favourite books are the first in the series!

Sometimes I think the second book of a series is the best book. The last book disappoint me because the authors don’t always tie the loose ends. I will have to say that my favorite sequel is The Subtle Knife, the sequel to the Golden Compass.

I’m super excited for ONCE WE WERE! My favorite sequel currently is Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake. It was a perfect ending to that series. I love to sequels, because I enjoy going back into a story I’ve already learned to love, but they are also scary. The “Middle Book Syndrome” in a trilogy does happen from time to time 🙁

Sequels are an interesting thing to me! When it’s a sequel for a book I really enjoyed, I get very excited to be reunited with the characters and to continue reading their story. However, I do end up having high expectations of the series! Generally, I’ve found that my expectations are met (particularly this year, the year of AWESOME sequels) though!

I had the fortune of reading Crown of Midnight, which was an AWESOME sequel. Siege and Storm was also amazing, as was The Crown of Embers. Catching FIre was also my favorite book in the Hunger Games trilogy.

My personal favorite sequel, of late, has been Insurgent. I think it flawlessly displays character development, character familiarity while also providing an actual, quantifiable advancing plot. I loved it!

Favourite sequel – Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K.Rowling. I know it’s the third book in the series but I started the series from Chamber of Secrets after I saw the first movie. Up until book 6 I always thought the following book was better than it’s predecessor. Also in the Artemis Fowl series I thought The Arctic Incident (Book #2) was better than the first. Frostbite from Vampire Academy is my favorite from that series, I never worry about being disappointing by Skulduggery Pleasant sequels I always think the book are better or just as good as the previous book. The only time I get weary about a sequel is when I think the first book was perfect on it’s own and I felt like it had reached its conclusion.

Favorite sequel (and three-quel) – Rebel Angels and A Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. Normally, I don’t tend to love follow up books in a series nearly as much as I love the first book, but I feel like the books get better each round.

Favorite sequel ever: “This Book Is Full of Spiders” by David Wong (Sequel to “John Dies at the End”)

It had all the amazing atmosphere of the first book, but the path it took was incredibly different and was filled with suspense and new twists. I’m often ambivalent about sequels and even trilogies, but this one caught me off guard.